Nstar warns 4,000 they’ll remain powerless all day

Credit: Herald Staff

SCENES OF THE BLACKOUT: From flames and heavy smoke in the Back Bay to customers eating by candlelight, a transformer explosion caused some interesting sights in Boston the past two days.

Nstar officials are warning the 4,000 customers who remain in the dark nearly two days after the Back Bay blackout gripped the city will not get power back at the time promised, saying the “extremely complex” process behind re-powering the Hub is behind the delay.

Power in all homes and businesses won’t be restored until “later today,” Nstar spokeswoman Caroline Pretyman said in an email, as the noontime goal of putting the lights on passed with thousands still wanting.

“The restoration effort is very complex and has been a combination of damage assessment, restoration planning and the installation of more than 50 massive generators in strategic locations along with jumper cables to provide temporary power,” Pretyman said, adding that workers have to navigate through hundreds of manholes as the weave temporary lines throughout downtown.

The Prudential Tower, which has loomed darkened over the city since power first was cut around 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, will be the last served because it operates on a separate circuit, Pretyman said.

Around 8,500 homes and businesses got power back shortly after 11 p.m., yesterday, according to Nstar officials, who originally anticipated getting power to back everyone by late yesterday, starting first with parts of Back Bay early in the afternoon. But points south have taken far longer than anticipated, hitting area businesses and residents alike.

“We understand the urgency of the situation,” Pretyman said.

The Mass. Pike’s Prudential Center exit was also closed due to the electrical work. The exit to Copley Square breifly opened this morning only to late close again, according to MassDOT officials.

Local colleges are still feeling the impact as well. The Berklee College of Music is closed today, according to its official Twitter feed, and its web site also remains down, citing the blackout. Northeastern University, meanwhile, ushered roughly 800 students for the second straight night from five downtown dormitories without power, urging those without a place to stay to take up cots inside Cabot Gymn.

About 40 each night took the offer, said Mike Armini, the school’s vice president of external affairs, adding the school offered food and bottled water for displaced co-eds.

“For a couple of days it’s fine, but we do want this issue resolved today,” Armini said. “Both the university and students seem to be rolling with it pretty well.”

As many as 21,000 people were left powerless following Tuesday night’s three-alarm transformer fire on Scotia Street, which poured thick black smoke into Back Bay after a block-shaking explosion rattled nearby buildings and hotels.